Volume 24: May
Inspirational finds near and far
Occasionally, the opportunity to travel for both work and pleasure will arise. Such was the case for me recently when I traveled to Milan with a fellow designer. Our only expectation was to take in as much inspiration as possible (spoiler alert: this was definitely accomplished!).
One of the most impressive sites was the Duomo di Milano at night, pictured above. It's mind boggling to think that this structure, as massive as it is, is only the 15th largest in the world.
Classics since the 14th Century
Marble, a truly timeless material, seen in the facade of the Duomo di Milano. Gray, always in style, don't believe everything the blogs tell you. Arches, an interesting detail we often see in the vintage homes we remodel.
Natural is always in
Curvilinear lines paired with natural stone bring both elegance and comfort.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Ever wonder how we get from inspiration to the finished project? After our initial meeting we follow up with a proposed floor plan. Once that is approved, we create a rendering showing you a colored realistic drawing of what your finished project could look like.
These renderings and floor plans are shared with your contractor who then uses them to create your beautiful, updated space.
We would love to help you achieve your vision with your next project. Please reach out to us here 👇🏻!
Volume 18: September
Happy September!
Here we are on this first day of the month but summer is not over yet!
We want to share with you a new beginning for one of our clients.
This 1920s cottage was in need of a refresh and updated kitchen floor plan after multiple remodels through the years. We set out to meet the needs of our clients by giving them more color, light, and function to accommodate their love of entertaining and fur babies.
In the kitchen, we updated the layout for better flow, installed these shaker teal cabinets, and added a touch of gold with the unique light fixture over the sink.
This Dutch door gives a more accessible and charming point of entry to and from the deck for the clients’ two dogs.
A simple paint treatment adds interest in the dining room, with forest green anchoring the space.
We created a functional focal point in the dining room by taking advantage of this existing alcove. The space was opened up and we added lighting. A built in buffet creates the perfect stop for a party spread.
At the fireplace wall in the living room, we added two windows to bring in more light. This added balance to the already vaulted ceiling. We took advantage of this height and raised the fireplace all the way. Shades of green (a favorite of the client) tile and a reclaimed wood mantle finish off the fireplace with layers of color and texture.
Our clients are so happy with the warm and welcoming vibe that this remodel has given them.
We were honored to submit this kitchen for consideration in the NKBA Puget Sound Chapter Design Awards this year and we won 2nd Place for Small | Medium Kitchen - woohoo!
We're currently scheduling for 2023 and would love to discuss your upcoming projects. Contact us to schedule yours.
Volume 14: February
P.S. I love you
For the love of Mid-Century Design
Why do I love it? I think my appreciation is related to my love of cars, or maybe my love of television - that doesn’t mean I’m a couch potato, but I do love a good Netflix binge (The Queen's Gambit, anyone?).
Palm Springs, a desert oasis, is the perfect place to get your mid-century modern (MCM) design inspiration and fix. Especially popular in the 1950s, it was a place for the Hollywood elite to escape for privacy while gathering in their unique homes or lounging on the back patio. Architects were commissioned to build cutting-edge designs for high-end clientele. Modern construction techniques of the time can be found in Palm Springs’ hotels and civic buildings, too, with metal and lots of glass which made for easy indoor/outdoor living.
Historic Dr. Franz Alexander house. Note the slight curve in the ceiling beams and fireplace.
Poolside at Limon, an all steel MCM boutique hotel.
A delightful way to see how this all became so cool is to visit Palm Springs during Modernism Week. I have gone to it a couple of times and was there again last week to not only soak up the sunshine but participate in the jam-packed schedule of house tours, lectures, and parties celebrating MCM architecture. The tours showcase renovations, preservation projects as well as new construction in the mid-century spirit. All have something beautiful to share in keeping the easy design character of the post-World War II era. Modernism Week happens in February, with a “Fall Preview” weekend in October, both of which are great times to visit Southern California.
Clockwise from top left: (1) A patio at the Polynesian themed Royal Hawaiian Estates condo community; (2) Renovation of the Dr. Franz Alexander house kitchen with walnut cabinetry featuring JennAir appliances; (3) A guest room at the Limon hotel featuring bright colors and a corrugated metal ceiling; (4) Stone and metal fireplace at the Dr. Franz Alexander house
Last week was, no question, a wonderful escape from the dreary weather we've been having in Seattle. It also fed my love for color and MCM design leaving me inspired to bring pieces of these concepts to my clients.
See you next month!
Volume 13: January
We continue to have absolutely amazing clients and projects that we get to design. Some of these projects are taking longer than planned due to supply chain issues and delays. Through it all, though, we are grateful to our clients and especially grateful to the clients that complete one remodel project and jump into another one.
Bring on the new year!
Phew 2022!
How is everyone doing?
We continue to have absolutely amazing clients and projects that we get to design. Some of these projects are taking longer than planned due to supply chain issues and delays. Through it all, though, we are grateful to our clients and especially grateful to the clients that complete one remodel project and jump into another one. That is the case with two bathroom projects we recently completed with repeat clients. That means they lived through the dust the first time remodeling their kitchens and chose to do it again with a bathroom! Both of these bathrooms function as a powder room for guests as well as serving guest bedrooms. We designed a luxe experience for the guests staying for dinner as well as the weekend.
Navy + Gold Bathroom
This bathroom started with a finish from every decade that wasn’t easy to maintain. I think I’ve blocked out just how many shades of harvest gold or green and laminate there were in this small space. We started with a classic color palette to carry this update into this decade. The real key in the design was to gain the feeling of space. A custom shallow vanity and a wall-hung toilet are game changers. Easier to maintain and clean for the win!
Mid-Mod Bathroom
Here we had a 1990’s bathroom trapped in a 1960’s home. Ouch, please no more green marble. So it was out with the old and in with a unique color-blocked vanity. Clean lines, mosaic tile and modern fixtures allow for guests to pamper themselves in style.
It’s a new year and we still hope you and yours are safe and healthy as it has been a struggle for many. Our creative process continues to move forward with our amazing local showrooms, vendors and tradespeople. Patience is the name of the game with remodeling and a glass of wine might help.
Cheers!
Check out our latest projects.
We look forward to working with you!